Speaking of the wheel turning....does any one remember SEARS? As kids in the 1950's the SEARS catalog was our bible for Christmas toy shopping.....especially when we lived in Germany in the late 1950's and early 1960's. AND.....for our parents SEARS was like AMAZON today. I am actually surprised that a handful of SEARS stores are still around. The LAST SEARS store I remember was when we lived in RURAL TEXAS from about 2000 to 2012. The small town that was our hub for shopping.....had a "contract" SEARS store....that was privately owned. It was basically focused on tools and equipment. Once America’s largest retail chain, this store is on life support with just 5 locations left https://www.oregonlive.com/business...-life-support-with-just-5-locations-left.html Of course one remnant of SEARS is still around.....ALLSTATE INSURANCE. They started as part of SEARS...being sold in the stores. Like a lot of companies....the FAILURE of SEARS is a sad story of A LONG LINE OF MANAGEMENT FAILURES......combined with the passage of time creating irrelevance as the company did not change to keep up with the times. Are you listening......AMAZON? Sears The company began as a mail-order catalog company and opened its first retail locations in 1925.[8] Through the 1980s, Sears was the largest retailer in the United States.[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears
NOW.....enough focus on the past....lets look to the future.....and achieving wealth and security for your family. Here’s how the best investors protect their money from market bubbles and FOMO https://www.marketwatch.com/story/h...om-market-bubbles-and-fomo-43003b99?st=hbWd6z "Retail investors who consistently achieve the best results manage financial-market risk the same way institutional investors do — dispassionately and systematically. With regard to bubble fears, this can be achieved by first determining the probability of a market crash within the next year and then establishing rules to guide a response." Of course my SIMPLE long term strategy is to stay fully invested all the time for the long term and IGNORE all the short term year to year events and market conditions.
The NASDAQ 100...the story of BIG TECH. A very interesting article. MOSTLY booms....not many busts. The Nasdaq 100: Booms & Busts https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2025/12/the-nasdaq-100-booms-busts/ "In 1 out of every 4 years, gains have been 40% or more. Nearly half of the years since 1995 have seen gains of 20% or higher. Losses are few and far between but when they happen they’re no joke. You’ll notice there are just five red numbers for the down years on the chart. Every single one of those losses was -30% or worse."
I have not thought about RC Cola in a long time....another blast from the past....(apparently a theme on here for me today)....but with a current twist. Inside RC Cola’s comeback campaign Owner Keurig Dr Pepper wants to bring the 120-year-old brand back into the conversation as more soda drinkers gravitate toward nostalgic beverages and classic cola flavors. https://www.fooddive.com/news/rc-cola-keurig-dr-pepper/806364/
I agree completely with this little "comment". According to the CBO......the One Big Beautiful Bill will boost GDP growth next year by 0.9%.. The BIG impact is......starting January 1, 2026, businesses will be able to immediately deduct capital expenses......investments in equipment and R&D. A potential HUGE boost for the economy in year 2026. Significant Fiscal Boost Coming in 2026 https://www.apolloacademy.com/significant-fiscal-boost-coming-in-2026/
ANOTHER investment for the future by the worlds most PROLIFIC modern CONGLOMERATE. I consider it a BRILLIANT use of free cash for NVDA to invest in young companies. Acorns that will become mighty oaks. Of course some...perhaps many.... will not pay off...but those that do will be HUGE. SoftBank, Nvidia looking to invest in Skild AI at $14 billion valuation, sources say https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-softbank-nvidia-looking-invest-153957884.html
Around here I saw "regular" gas priced at $2.29 yesterday. The lowest I have seen in a long time. Oil Cools in Rangebound Trading With Focus on Russian Supplies https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-steady-focus-india-buying-033408519.html
I see this as the future of Berkshire Hathaway......people moving on. We are in the era of HUGE pay packages for business "stars". I believe that many of the top people in Berkshire will move on over the next few years. The end of an era....and a very dangerous time for the investment company. THIS is a HUGE story in the financial media today. Replacing ICONIC founder management is a very difficult thing to do. Berkshire Hathaway stock picker Todd Combs departs to lead new strategic investment group at JPMorgan https://finance.yahoo.com/news/berk...c-investment-group-at-jpmorgan-154015380.html
YES....I have mentioned this a few times. The FED cuts rates and the Ten Year and other rates DO NOT respond at all....they simply stay the same. An interesting little article on this trend....which I think will hold for at least one more rate cut...perhaps even two. Bond Traders Defy Fed and Spark Heated Debate on Wall Street https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bond-traders-defy-fed-spark-200000838.html "The bond market’s reaction to the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate cuts has been highly unusual. By some measures, a disconnect like this, with Treasury yields climbing as the central bank lowers rates, hasn’t been seen since the 1990s."
The market so far today. S&P 500 slides as investors tap brakes before Fed decision this week https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/07/stock-market-today-live-updates.html Basically a continuation of...walking on egg-shells.....and directionless lack of confidence. A VERY GOOD indicator for the continuation of the....BULL MARKET in 2026. In conjunction with the article above: "Weighing on stock sentiment was the 10-year Treasury yield continuing its recent run higher."
